Kennedy to lead transgender task force, calls for Sessions to resign as AG

Thursday

Mar 2, 2017 at 2:48 PMMar 3, 2017 at 3:19 PM

On the day he called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign, U.S. Rep Joe Kennedy III — an outspoken critic of the Trump administration's policies on transgender rights — was introduced as the new leader of a Congressional task force devoted to protecting the transgender community.

Gerry Tuoti Wicked Local Newsbank Editor

On the day he called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign, U.S. Rep Joe Kennedy III — an outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s policies on transgender rights — was introduced as the new leader of a Congressional task force devoted to protecting the transgender community.

“The basic goal of the task force is to ensure America continues to try to make good on its promise of equal protection under the law and equality for everyone,” the Brookline Democrat said in a phone interview Thursday. “In 2017, the transgender community faces various forms of discrimination across the country.”

The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus on Thursday announced Kennedy as the new chairman of its bipartisan Transgender Equality Task Force.

Kennedy’s appointment as chairman of the task force comes a week after Sessions and President Donald Trump’s administration rescinded Obama-era protections that allowed transgender public school students to use the restrooms and facilities that corresponded with their gender identity.

“As President Trump has clearly stated, he believes policy regarding transgender bathrooms should be decided at the state level,” the White House said in a statement.

Since his election in 2012, Kennedy has been an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage and transgender protections. Last year, he testified at the Massachusetts Statehouse in support of the state’s transgender non-discrimination bill, which was signed into law last July.

The task force, Kennedy said, will focus on restoring the recently rescinded policy on transgender public school students, advocating for equal health care access and addressing violence against transgender Americans. The efforts will be based in both advocacy and legislation, he said.

Kennedy vehemently opposed the Trump administration’s move to withdraw the federal guidance for transgender students in public schools.

“I was disheartened and so, so not surprised that was one of the first actions of the attorney general and this administration,” Kennedy said. “It shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the challenges many students of the transgender community face. How exactly is a child supposed to learn when they’re terrified, being bullied and feel school isn’t a safe place to learn and study?”

Throughout the confirmation process, Kennedy vocally opposed Trump’s nomination of Sessions as attorney general. The Massachusetts Congressman cited concerns over Sessions’ record on civil rights for women, minorities and the LGBT community.

Kennedy said Sessions’ failure to uphold protections for transgender students and new revelations about his contact with a Russian ambassador in 2016, render him unfit for office.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Sessions had private discussions with a Russian ambassador last year, then failed to disclose the contact while speaking under oath in his confirmation hearing.

“You’ve got an attorney general who’s unfit for office to begin with, who was deemed too extreme for a federal judgeship yet somehow was elevated to the highest law enforcement office in the land, who during confirmation proceedings forgot to answer a direct question truthfully — all while we’re in the midst of a highly publicized effort from Russia to destabilize our election,” Kennedy said. “How can we have confidence in his abilities when he misled the American people while under oath? How can that person stand to lead the Justice Department?”

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